The Spanish rule on the Philippines was briefly interrupted in 1792 when attacked English Manila that caused the entry of Spain in the Seven Years' War . The Paris Treaty of 1763 restored the Spanish rule and the British left the country in 1764. The English occupation weakened Spain's power and led to rebellions and demands for independence. [7]
In 1871, Governor-General Jose Basco y Vargas founded the Economic Society of Friends of the Country . At the time, the Philippines was directly governed by Spain. Events in and outside the country have helped bring new ideas to the Philippines. The opening of the Suez Canal in 1869 shortened the voyage to Spain. This led to an increase in the number of illustrators who were associated with creoles , a high level of Filipinos, because many young Filipinos were educated in Europe . The illustrators established the Propaganda Movement in 1882.
The Propaganda Movement aimed at restoring Philippine representation to the Spanish Congress ( Spanish Cortes ), some reforms and soon, the country's independence. The José Rizal , the most celebrated of illustrado at that time, wrote the novels Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo , which inspired the movement for independence. [4] In 1892, Andrés Bonifacio founded the Supreme, Privileged People's Society(KKK) whose goal was to gain independence by fighting the Spaniards. Bonifacio became its supreme leader.